Owner's Car
The Cunningham car of the early 1950s was the product of revered sportsman Briggs Cunningham’s determination to win the 24-hour race at Le Mans with an American-built automobile. Cunningham had attempted the feat with production-based Cadillacs, but finding them not sufficient to the task, endeavored to build his own car, backed by his not-inconsiderable fortune and bottomless enthusiasm. His team developed a strong tubular chassis with independent coil-sprung front suspension and tuned Chrysler Hemi V8 power, wrapped in slippery bodywork. It won at Road America and Watkins Glen in 1951.
According to Richard Harman’s authoritative book, Cunningham: The Passion, The Cars, The Legacy, C-3 number 5442, the second-from-last coupe built, was based upon the renumbered, unused chassis originally designated 5213. It was completed in the spring of 1953, likely in metallic gray with gray interior trim, 20-gallon fuel tank and engine number 52810226, still installed today, carrying four Zenith single-barrel carburetors. It was originally delivered in the spring of 1954 to R.L. Parish of New York City. Subsequently, it moved west, and in the early 1960s was repaired following an accident while being driven by a lady in Northern California.
Because of their bespoke nature and wonderful heritage, every Cunningham C-3 is a significant automobile. Few, however, stand as prominently as this one, bearing an exceptional, cost-no-object restoration, in spectacular colors, and with an extremely authentic presentation that has won awards across the country. It is truly one of the very finest of its kind and a proven victor — something that Briggs Cunningham, the passionate competitor, would certainly appreciate. There is likely no finer example available.
Cunningham became a reluctant manufacturer of 27 street cars, a homologation requirement for Le Mans. The resultant C-3, also known as the Continental, was originally intended as a dual-purpose sports car that could be driven to the track, raced, then driven home. But by the time the car became a reality, it had morphed into an ultra-luxury 2-seater.
20 coupes, five cabriolets were bodied by Vignale in Italy, based on a svelte Giovanni Michelotti design.
Retailing for between $10,000 and $15,000, the C-3 was the most expensive American car at the time, selling for roughly three times the price of a $3,500 Cadillac Coupe Deville. Speaking of which, the first four C-3s, s/n 5206 through 5209, were equipped with 3-speed Cadillac manual gearboxes. The balance of production, including s/n 5442 featured here, had rather un-sporty Chrysler Fluid Torque Drive semi-automatic gearbox.
This car sold for $945,500, including buyer’s premium, at Broad Arrow Auctions’ sale in Gloversville, NY, October 15, 2022.
Owner's Car
The Cunningham car of the early 1950s was the product of revered sportsman Briggs Cunningham’s determination to win the 24-hour race at Le Mans with an American-built automobile. Cunningham had attempted the feat with production-based Cadillacs, but finding them not sufficient to the task, endeavored to build his own car, backed by his not-inconsiderable fortune and bottomless enthusiasm. His team developed a strong tubular chassis with independent coil-sprung front suspension and tuned Chrysler Hemi V8 power, wrapped in slippery bodywork. It won at Road America and Watkins Glen in 1951.
According to Richard Harman’s authoritative book, Cunningham: The Passion, The Cars, The Legacy, C-3 number 5442, the second-from-last coupe built, was based upon the renumbered, unused chassis originally designated 5213. It was completed in the spring of 1953, likely in metallic gray with gray interior trim, 20-gallon fuel tank and engine number 52810226, still installed today, carrying four Zenith single-barrel carburetors. It was originally delivered in the spring of 1954 to R.L. Parish of New York City. Subsequently, it moved west, and in the early 1960s was repaired following an accident while being driven by a lady in Northern California.
Because of their bespoke nature and wonderful heritage, every Cunningham C-3 is a significant automobile. Few, however, stand as prominently as this one, bearing an exceptional, cost-no-object restoration, in spectacular colors, and with an extremely authentic presentation that has won awards across the country. It is truly one of the very finest of its kind and a proven victor — something that Briggs Cunningham, the passionate competitor, would certainly appreciate. There is likely no finer example available.
Cunningham became a reluctant manufacturer of 27 street cars, a homologation requirement for Le Mans. The resultant C-3, also known as the Continental, was originally intended as a dual-purpose sports car that could be driven to the track, raced, then driven home. But by the time the car became a reality, it had morphed into an ultra-luxury 2-seater.
20 coupes, five cabriolets were bodied by Vignale in Italy, based on a svelte Giovanni Michelotti design.
Retailing for between $10,000 and $15,000, the C-3 was the most expensive American car at the time, selling for roughly three times the price of a $3,500 Cadillac Coupe Deville. Speaking of which, the first four C-3s, s/n 5206 through 5209, were equipped with 3-speed Cadillac manual gearboxes. The balance of production, including s/n 5442 featured here, had rather un-sporty Chrysler Fluid Torque Drive semi-automatic gearbox.
This car sold for $945,500, including buyer’s premium, at Broad Arrow Auctions’ sale in Gloversville, NY, October 15, 2022.